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Friday, May 17, 2013

Memphis
has a lot to offer anyone who might be interested in cyclingBy: Michael G. Lander

These cyclists are crossing Mullins Station Road near the intersection with Farm Road in East Memphis. Currently cyclists can ride from Germantown, into Shelby FarmsPark, and then travel west on to the Greater Memphis Greenline toward Memphis and back.

Look
in and around Memphis
and you are likely to notice a lot more cyclists riding their bikes than ever before.Over the last couple of years
there has been a tremendous rise in the number of cyclists riding on some of
the new trails that have been created, while others are out riding in the
parks, in the neighborhoods, or on the city streets.
From the young and old, and people of different shapes and sizes, Memphians
seem to be coming out in force to ride their bikes.Some of them do it just for the fun of it,
while others ride their bikes as an alternative form of transportation and still others who are into bike-riding for exercise and who ride to stay in shape.
Whatever the reasons might be, most health experts will tell you that cycling is
one of the best aerobic-style, low-impact activities that people can do.And getting to take in all the scenery around
you is an added plus for many.
For those who aren't already cycling, the biggest challenge or question might
be exactly how to get started.Kyle
Wagenschutz's answer to this is clear and to the point.
"Just keep it simple and keep it fun," Wagenschutz said.
Wagenschutz is the current bike and pedestrian coordinator for the city of
Memphis and the first to occupy that position.He recommends starting out slowly by just doing a few rides here and
there, and he then suggests doing a little more over time.
For the president of a local bike club, no time has been better to think about
starting to ride a bike.
"The new bike lanes and trails in Memphis have been awesome," Memphis Hightailers Bicycle Club President, Bill Ramia, said.
Ramia believes that people now have a lot more places to ride than ever before
and that things are getting a lot better for cyclists in the city, including
the attitude that people have toward cyclists themselves.He attributes this to the efforts of the
Memphis Hightailers Bicycle Club and the city government under Mayor A.C. Wharton and the city's bike and
pedestrian coordinator.

Cyclists have a bike and pedestrian trial that runs along the Mississippi River near the Harahan Bridge to Tom Lee Park in downtown Memphis.

As for choosing a bike, Ramia doesn't think that someone just getting into
cycling needs to worry that much about the bike that they start out with.For him, the most important thing is to just
to get out and ride.
"Pretty soon, you will begin to figure out what you need and what you
want," Ramia said.
Cost-wise, Wagenschutz said that you can spend as little or as much as you
would like to on a bike.
"Generally speaking... you don't need to spend thousands on a bike
though.For a couple hundred dollars you
can get a bike and start enjoying the ride," Wagenschutz said."Practically speaking, a bike is a bike.If it has two wheels, goes forward when you
pedal, and stops when you hit the brakes, you're in good shape."
More than anything, for Wagenschutz and for most avid cyclists, getting the
right bike comes down to sizing.
"If your bike is too small or too big, it will be uncomfortable to ride
and could cause pains in your back, neck, or legs, and it could be
unsafe," Wagenschutz said.
Both Ramia and Wagenschutz advise beginning cyclists to think about riding with
others and Ramia said that there are several groups in the city tailored
specifically for them.

One of the trails in Germantown currently runs parallel to Humphreys Blvd with another that runs along the Wolfe River.

"The Hightailers have true beginner rides on Monday evening led by one of
our past presidents, Steve Watson, which meet at Cameron Brown Park,"
Ramia said."There are also two
beginner-level rides in the midtown area with one organized by the Vollentine-Evergreen Community Association and
another ad-hoc group that meets at Overton
Square each Wednesday night."
One of the advantages that group rides offer, Ramia said, is the chance to talk
with other cyclists and to learn from one another.
When it comes to safety, Ramia strongly recommends always being visible and always
being predictable.He also thinks that
it's a good idea to carry a cell phone and to carry a few basic tools and items
needed to change a flat tire.For
maintenance and upkeep of a bike, Wagenshutz said that cyclists should always
consider their ABC's, which consists of air, brakes, and chain.
"Make sure you've got enough air in your tires, check to make sure your
brakes are working properly, and keep your chain lubed," Wagenschutz said.
Cycling is a big part of For Ramia's and Wagenschutz's lives.
"For me, riding a bike is a logical and rational choice for how I live my
life.... I wouldn't use a car unless I absolutely have to.It's cheap, efficient, and it keeps me in
good health," Wagenschutz said.

The bike and pedestrian trails in Germantown and Memphis are perfectly suited for those who want to do a slower, more recreational bike ride while taking in the scenery, and who prefer not to ride on the city streets.

Depending on his work and travel schedule, Ramia said that he tries to ride his
bike two to four times a week.
"I ride for many reasons.I do it
for exercise, relaxation, and social networking.My wife and I have made a lot of friends
through cycling, and I am motivated by getting to see my friends and by the
desire to get faster and stronger in my riding skills," Ramia said.
Even though it can be a lot of work, Ramia said that he enjoys his role as the
Memphis Hightailers president and what all the club does for the community.
"We are involved in supporting numerous charities through the proceeds of
our rides and we donated over $15,000 last year to charities like the Church Health Center, the Mid-South Food Bank and Moscow
Food Bank, Rossville
Volunteer Fire Department, Oasis of
Hope Bike Ministry, Bike/Walk
Tennessee, Livable Memphis, Shelby Farms Park, Greater Memphis Greenline, Inc.,
and others," Ramia said."Many
other groups come to us on a weekly basis to help them with rides that they are
organizing, too."
With the group rides for beginning cyclists and the proliferation of trails and
bike lanes in the area, Memphis offers much, especially to those who might be
interesting in cycling.

Steve Dodd often rides one of two bikes that he owns in his Southaven neighborhood, but he enjoys riding the Memphis greenline whenever he can.

In the stillness and the quietness of his Southaven, Mississippi neighborhood, Steve Dodd enjoys getting up, before most of
the world around him wakes up, pulling out his bike, and getting out for an
early morning bike ride.For him,
watching the sun slowly rise and taking in the cool morning air and seeing the
beautiful scenery around him is one of the simple pleasures that he has in his
life.

Like so many others, Dodd grew up riding a bike and continued to do it through
college, but then, as withso many other
people in our fast-paced world, many other things in life, such as a career and
family, took over and drew him away from his bike riding.He did not return to it until 2005.It was that year that he bought a hybrid bike
simply for recreation and slowly started to experience the same enjoyment that
he had for it when he was younger.

After he fell in love with cycling again, Dodd soon found another reason to
ride that had even more meaning and gave him an even greater motivation than
ever before.

"I heard about a two day, 150-mile bike ride for the National
Multiple Sclerosis Society from a friend of mine at FedEx," Dodd said
and he knew immediately that it was something that he wanted to do.

Knowing someone who had the disease was all the more reason he needed to do it
he said.Since then, he has participated
in five of these events and was the inspiration for several others to ride for
the same cause too.

Within the last couple of years, Dodd's passion for cycling has crossed over
from the city streets into discussions that he has had with city leaders.It is also something that has been an
important issue for him now that he is currently running for the Southaven Alderman-At-Large
position.He is in a run-off election
that is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, May 21.

"For three years now, I have been petitioning the city leaders to install
bike lanes," Dodd said.

Dodd has talked with the city planning director, Whitney Choat-Cook, about a
master plan for bike lanes, but found that the Mississippi Department of
Transportation has a $850,000 federal grant that is on hold due to the city not
having a clear financial audit.

"If elected, I will want to work toward getting the audit
cleared so that the grant can be received.Then I will work closely with the planning director to have
multi-purpose lanes installed," Dodd said."I will also work toward getting Central
Park connected to Snowden Grove via a greenline type of path.From there, we will work on getting some lanes
throughout the city," Dodd added.

Olive Branch and Tunica have gotten a head start over Southaven with either bike lanes or bike trails being put in and with many to the north in metropolitan Memphis and surrounding areas.

Choat-Cook has compiled a map that places street bike and pedestrian paths on the
wider street systems that currently exist in the city of Southaven.

"Due to the city being primarily built out, we are having to utilize
existing street systems with 30 foot or more widths and restripe them for bike
access," Choat-Cook said."In
addition to that, the remaining undeveloped areas are required to submit plans
with mandatory bike and pedestrian paths incorporated into them.We have also applied for grants through state
and federal outlets for bike and pedestrian enhancement programs."

Whether it is cyclists or vehicles, the safety of those on the roads is an
important issue for Dodd.

"I absolutely think that all cyclists should be very well-versed on the
rules of the road," Dodd said."You are out there in traffic and need to obey the same rules as
cars do."

Dodd is currently serving on the DeSoto
County School Board, which he has done for 18 years and has been employed
by FedEx for 27 years.He is a member of the Memphis HIghtailers and he says
that, while riding his bike, he often gets a quite a few second looks, smiles
and waves because of his beard and Santa Claus-like appearance.He is a professional real-bearded Santa and it's not every day that you see
Santa on a bike, unless of course, you live in Southaven, Miss.

About Me

I am a long-time resident of Memphis, Tennessee. I had a long active duty military career and I am now a student at the University of Memphis. I am married to a native Memphian who is a retired Memphis City School teacher. When I am not busy, or in school, you will likely find me out riding my bike or jogging around my East Memphis neighborhood. If you would like to learn more of my passion for cycling, you can follow me on twitter at - https://twitter.com/memphiscyclist, or you can check out my cycling website - http://memphiscyclist.com. If you have any questions or comments about my blogs, my website or about Memphis cycling, please feel free to contact me at mikel5061@yahoo.com.